Roasted Pears with Vanilla & Grand Marnier

From Organic Style magazine

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lemon
• 8  pears, preferably bosc
• 1⁄2 cup  granulated brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons butter, melted
• 1  vanilla bean
• 1⁄3 cup water
• 1⁄3 cup Grand Marnier or 1⁄3 cup  orange liqueur

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Remove the yellow peel from the lemon in 1/2 inch strips and place them in a shallow baking dish that is large enough to hold all the pears.
3. Using a small paring knife, cut out about 3/4 of each pear's core from the bottom, leaving the pear intact.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl.
5. Using a basting brush, brush the inside of each pear with lemon juice and sprinkle it with sugar.
6. Brush each pear with melted butter.
7. Place remaining sugar on a large cutting board or a sheet of waxed paper.
8. Roll each pear in sugar so it is evenly coated and place in the baking dish.
9. Slice vanilla bean lengthwise down the center and scrape out the seeds.
10. Place the seeds and pod in the baking dish.
11. Add the water and Grand Marnier.
12. Bake the pears for 45 minutes, basting occasionally with the liquid in the dish.
13. If they're getting too brown, loosely cover with foil.
14. Serve with leftover syrup and vanilla ice cream.